First Communion Day

Today three of the children of our community received their first communion at our 11:00 AM liturgy. For Catholics, Jesus is really present in communion under the appearances of bread and wine. It was a happy day for the children, their families, and our community.

The seating looks rather irregular but that’s because of COVID-19. We can put the families together but then they must be separated from the other families and the individuals who were arriving for this mass.
Fr. Charlie lighting the first candle on the Advent wreath.
The children came forward with their families to receive communion.
At the end of the liturgy each of the children received a certificate from Sr. Mary and Marylyn and Fr. Charlie gave them a small gift.
Also recognized this morning were the teachers and staff of our religious education program. (L-R:) Kylene, Marylyn, Sr. Mary, Fr. Charlie, and Borj.

Charlie’s Places

In my old website I had a section called “Charlie’s Own,” a take-off on Steve McQueen’s “Steve’s Own” salad dressing long ago, in which I showed the various places I frequent for different services. I used to have a young man by the Boeung Keng Kang Market who fixed my watch, replacing bands, changing batteries, etc., but he moved on. Now I’ve found this man by the Russian Market. What you see is his whole shop: basically the left part which looks something the shape of a phone booth (although not that big) with a chair for him to sit on. Here he is working on my watch band today. Charged me 75¢.

Not for me…

Maybe I’d learn to like it, maybe I’d even do well at it, but working with heavy steel cables seems like one of the worst jobs imaginable. Trying to splice them, adding hooks and clamps—maybe there is even some artistry to it but something in my mind really doesn’t like the idea.